Wadsworth Park closure, gay stories criticized

Apparently the city has decided to start closing Wadsworth Park on holidays.

I was a little disappointed to learn the park was closed on Christmas, but I understood the reasoning behind the closure for that day.

I do not, however, understand the reasoning behind the closure of Wadsworth Park on New Year’s Day.

Jeers to the city for closing this park on that holiday. Does this mean the park will now be closed on all holidays? Many parks are utilized on holidays for the simple fact that people have the day off!

— Tracy Knight,

Great Falls

Editor’s note: The city of Great Falls provided this explanation: Wadsworth Park was closed on Christmas and New Year’s days, as were other city offices and facilities. That upset some area residents who are accustomed to walking their dogs in the park. Because the park has Wadsworth Pond, the park has a gate for safety and is manned by a city employee.

In the past, a park caretaker lived in the area so the park often remained open on holidays, but now the park is manned by a city employee. The new park supervisor decided to close the park on New Year’s Day instead of paying employees overtime.

Jenn Reichelt, deputy city manager, said the Park and Recreation Department in the future will make sure to give residents notice if the park is to be closed on New Year’s Day.

Taking a stand

It’s time for me to make my stand against the amount of coverage the Tribune is giving the whole lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning way of life.

I normally love reading the teen panelists’ articles in the paper, but those on Jan. 5 disgusted me. To drag teenagers into this mess of society was, in my opinion, in very bad taste. My opinion of the Tribune also has diminished since this onslaught of coverage of an issue that seems to go against the moral fiber of most of the population of Montana.

Now, instead of really delving into reading the paper, I just skim over the subject lines, ready to avert (my eyes) from any overblown article on the LGBTIQ lifestyle.

What many forget is when this whole movement started, the gay community said that they would not force their issues or their lifestyle upon us. But that is exactly what they appear to be doing, and the Tribune seems to be encouraging it.